Imphal, Feb 19: The Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association, Manipur (FIDAM) has appealed for urgent attention to deliver justice to the victims’ families of the enforced disappearance from 1980 to 2012 in Manipur.
“Today, the members of FIDAM with serious shock and regret express our deep concern to seek urgent attention to the cases of enforced disappearances since September 23, 1980,” the association said in a statement released to the press on Tuesday.
The first case of enforced disappearance happened to Thokchom Lokendro at midnight when the Government of India issued an order to impose Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, especially in the valley, the association said
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FIDAM also cited the Laishram Kamal Babu case who disappeared from the military garrison of the 57th Mountain Division of the Indian Army headquarters at Leimakhong on November 25, 2024.
“The report of the HRC (A)HRC/56/NGO/118 dated 24 June 2024 Agenda Item 3 stated that extrajudicial execution and enforced disappearance are a tool of terror and crime under international law with a devastating impact that strikes not just individuals and their families, but entire societies leaving scars that are very difficult to heal,” it mentioned.
Enforced disappearances have left many families with unanswered questions and for life. The practice of enforced disappearance has reached a global scale and India is not immune to this human rights violation, FIDAM said.
It also said Individuals and communities in several Indian states have been targeted for enforced disappearance, and enforced disappearances have been a grave human rights issue for decades because of AFSPA.
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FIDAM demanded the Manipur Governor and the Chief Secretary to communicate with the Department of Home, Government of Manipur, to provide a detailed report of the investigation of the 24 cases of enforced disappearance during the period of 1980 to 2012 in Manipur with the reason why till today almost all the families are not getting justice.
It also demanded the establishment of an independent and impartial investigation team chaired by a retired Justice with the participation of civil society organisations and victim families to investigate cases of enforced disappearance during the period of six months.
The association further demanded communication with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Defense to provide the list of the perpetrators who committed the enforced disappearances.
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“Communicate with the expert members of the Working Group on Enforced Disappearance of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva for their technical suggestions and cooperation”, it further demanded.
(Newmai News Network)
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